In contrast to the pompously ornamented emphasis on the powerful and elemental in the formal language of the Baroque, Biedermeier furniture – see the Biedermeier cabinets in our portfolio – reflects an understanding of design and art that is expressed in emphatically matter-of-fact stylistic designs; clear forms and bright, sometimes contrasting colors are preferred. The extensive absence of surface decorations is an expression of this sparse aesthetic, as is the fact that predominantly domestic woods are used in the manufacturing process. This “style of simplicity” develops in the course of the epoch into the ideal of a modesty that can be interpreted as a deliberate turning away from the luxurious pomp of the 18th century (see Frankfurt cabinet and tabernacle secretary): The contemporary virtues of bourgeois inwardness receive their aesthetic counterpart in simple elegance and functionality. The Biedermeier period is closely associated with
the social rise of the bourgeoisie after the Congress of Vienna (1815). However, it is by no means an art that had only bourgeois clients. Some of the most remarkable, but also simplest pieces of furniture were commissioned by the court and the nobility. RSA Antiquitäten Wiesbaden offers its customers a generous selection of outstanding Biedermeier exhibits – chests of drawers, Biedermeier pull-out tables with matching chairs, seating furniture, mirrors and tables, as well as paintings and various accessories from the period between 1815 and 1848.
While Baroque furniture displays a representative, powerful and opulent formal language, Art Déco furniture or Biedermeier (chests of drawers, cabinets, secretaries, etc.) are associated with a rather clear, yet timelessly elegant aesthetic. A special example of the baroque style is the two-door Frankfurt cabinet with its magnificent dimensions and a characteristically protruding cornice, for which you can find some outstanding exhibits in our portfolio. In contrast, the Biedermeier period at the beginning of industrial and technical development in Germany focuses on rather simple and restrained expressive elements and a clear formal language. Some 70 years later, moments of that formal rigor can be found in the design style of Art Déco, which combines the simple character with a contemporary sleek elegance and sophistication, as we see in the arts and crafts: Furniture (Art Déco chairs, tables, lamps, etc.), jewelry, textiles, ceramics or interior design of the 20s and 30s.
The so-called “Frankfurt wardrobe” is an exceptional example of a Baroque – furniture, which reminds us of the master craftsmanship of the carpenters’ guild from the Frankfurt area in the period of the 18th century. In our portfolio we carry some of these magnificent closets, which were once used to store household linen and clothes in patrician houses and bourgeois households. In contrast to Biedermeier furniture, which seeks to harmonize restrained form and functionality, the Frankfurt wardrobe served, among other things, representation in its material quality, craftsmanship and size, which allowed conclusions to be drawn about the social status of the owner. In addition to these showpieces, our spacious showrooms present a constantly changing selection of unique historical furniture, from Art Déco mirrors to tabernacle secretaries. Everyone interested in art and furniture is welcome here, we value exchange and conversation.
From the Tabernacle Secretary to the Art Déco Chair
Lovers of artfully crafted Baroque furniture will feel just as much at home with us as art lovers of Art Déco furniture design (chairs, tables, seating furniture or mirrors, etc.). We would like to offer you the whole spectrum of our antiques in their unique variety. Whether you are interested in an extraordinary rarity such as a so-called “Tabernacle Secretary” (Baroque), or rather enjoy one of our Empire chests of drawers – we will be happy to advise you in our showrooms and give you valuable advice on how to integrate your historical treasures appropriately and stylishly into your modern living ambience.
